Cruise Restart Saga Continues

 Florida in the News

Will Florida law derail cruise restart?

Earlier this month we wrote about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis legal steps to get cruising from Florida and other U.S. ports restarted with reasonable safety protocols. We also wrote about the legislation that banned Florida businesses for requiring proof of vaccination in order to provide services. We commented that he was sending mixed signals in our blog post Vaccination Role in Cruise Restart. 

Just one day after jubilant celebration by Celebrity Cruises, and the entire cruise industry, as the first CDC approval from resumption of sailing from U.S. ports occurred, Florida and Governor DeSantis are again in the spotlight. According to a spokesperson from the governor's office, "Requiring customers to show proof of immunization violates the spirit of the governor’s Emergency Order 21-81, which prohibits vaccine passports and protects the fundamental rights of Floridians – including the right to medical privacy." 

Governor DeSantis office indicated that under the new law, which takes effect on July 1, businesses can be fined up to $5,000 per violation. The only exemption in the law is for licensed healthcare providers.

Celebrity Cruises intends to move forward with plans to begin sailing with fully vaccinated crew and passengers as required by CDC to bypass test cruise phase of the recovery plan. Protocols are being finalized between the line and the CDC. We can imagine that the conflict with the Florida law is also being addressed. 

CDC and the cruise lines have one goal in mind - keeping the crew, passengers, and ports visited safe and healthy via the protocols being introduced. It would be a shame if this Florida law introduces another setback for the suffering cruise industry. Stay tuned for developments on this and other cruise industry news.

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Important Information - Land and Sea Travel

My advice - Get a Passport

1) Proof of Citizenship
Beginning January 31, 2008, all adult (age 19 and above) travelers will be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, and proof of identity, such as a driver’s license, when entering the United States through land and sea ports of entry.

This change is in addition to the following which is already in effect:

2) Passport Requirements
All travelers including citizens of the United States, Canada, and Bermuda are now required to present a valid passport when entering the United States at any airport as of January 23, 2007. This includes children of any age.

For more information about this change, see the Dept. of Homeland Security press release on this topic and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI): The Basics.

"Do I need a Passport to go on a cruise?" is probably the most frequently asked question by clients looking at a cruise vacation. My advice is that I'd highly recommend that they obtain a passport (even if less restricitve rules are in effect - such as the first bullet above).

Here are some examples of why you should have a passport:

a) You are traveling on a cruise after Jan. 23, 2008, and have valid proof of citizenship (other than a passport) as outlined in the first bullet above. You, or a member of your family becomes ill and you need to fly home. Your proof of citizenship (such as drivers license and birth certificate) is now insufficient, since the more restrictive airline rules take effect.

b) You miss an airline connection, or don't get back to the ship in time and you need to fly to the next port of call to join / rejoin the cruise. Unless the next port of call is a US territory, you will most likely need a passport to enter the country. (there are some exceptions to this, so if you are a gambler, you could roll the dice and hope you won't need a passport).

c) A no brainer situation is one where you are traveling to a country or countries that have passport (and possibly visa) requirement for entry and exit. Check with your travel agent or the country's embassy if you are unclear of the requirements.

Other Resources:

U.S. Dept of State - Passports (information about requirements and how to obtain a passport)

Passport and Visa Services (passport & visa expeditors)

U.S. Embassies (Websites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (advice about any health advisories here and abroad)
Traveler's Health (CDC Travel specific topics)

Flight Related DVT (Flight-related Deep Vein Thrombosis -Economy Class Syndrome)

Transportation Security Administration (TSA website - latest regulations and resources)



KNOW BEFORE YOU GO is my suggestion to you. Consult with your travel agent, cruise line, and air carrier to be sure you understand all the rules that govern your trip (including unforseen circumstances such as the examples above).